Topics

Do New Year's resolutions lead to changes in consumers' buying decisions? Do consumers spend more or less to reach their goals? Those are a couple of questions Boston-based consulting firm Influence Central posed to more than 400 women this month to find out how resolutions affect consumer spending. Nearly three quarters of those surveyed plan to spend more than $500 to reinvent themselves, the survey found, but respondents were divided on whether those investments will help them keep resolutions. Not surprisingly, the top resolutions focused on health and fitness, with 43 percent hoping to get more exercise and lose weight. More than a quarter said they want to take charge...

Related "Back to School" Articles

Do New Year's resolutions lead to changes in consumers' buying decisions? Do consumers spend more or less to reach their goals?
Those are a couple of questions Boston-based consulting firm Influence Central posed to more than 400 women this month to find...

This month more than 50 million American children will report to our public and elementary school systems to begin another school year, bringing with them not only new books, laptops, smartphones and iPads, but also their parents' hopes and dreams for a...

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and new schools CEO Gregory Thornton will kick off a listening tour around the city on Monday, as part of a back-to-school campaign scheduled throughout the month that will include hearing out parent concerns and...

American kids are heading back to school. But the schools they're heading back to differ dramatically by family income.
Which helps explain the growing achievement gap between lower- and higher-income children.
Thirty years ago, the average gap on...

Consumers will be spared Maryland's 6 percent sales tax on some apparel and footwear during the state's annual tax-free week starting Aug. 10.
During Shop Maryland week, no sales tax will be levied on any single qualifying article of clothing and shoes...

As baby boomers ebb out of the workforce and into retirement, financial advisers are helping wind down their clients' careers by preparing them for soon-to-be-reduced incomes.
Meet Cyndi Hutchins, Bank of America Merrill Lynch's director of financial...

Day's End Farm Horse Rescue in Lisbon is having its annual Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Pony rides, a petting zoo, demonstrations, vendors, live music, food, games and costumed horses are some of the scheduled activities....

Our summer weather has been unusually cool and pleasant. I love watching and saying hello to all the many neighbors taking strolls, walking their dogs or jogging along our quiet streets in the evening. They are certainly taking advantage of the lovely...

Attention, all golfers in the area. Hammond High Boosters are hosting their third annual Golf Tournament on Oct. 11 to raise funds for Hammond High activities.
Registration is now being accepted for singles, twosomes and foursomes. Anyone is welcome to...

With this week's start of the 2014-15 school year in Harford County, law enforcement and school officials, as well as state transportation officials, are urging drivers to be cautious around school buses, bus stops and students walking to school.
...

At the Target in Baltimore's Mondawmin Mall, megaphone-shaped "college" signs hang over aisles stocked with must-haves for students living on their own, such as mini-refrigerators, desk lamps and six-packs of ramen noodles.
"Back to...

About 38,000 Harford County Public Schools students went back to school Monday, but a select group of North Bend Elementary School students got to ride the bus to school with top Harford County and HCPS leaders, including schools Superintendent Barbara...

Every school should have a Donte Samuel. For more than eight years, Mr. Samuel has created a warm and happy environment at Belmont Elementary in West Baltimore, where excited pupils greet him daily with bright eyes and wide smiles in the middle of their...

At the front door of a home near Holabird Academy in Southeast Baltimore, new city schools CEO Gregory Thornton and the Baltimore Oriole Bird mascot greeted a gaggle of young children with fresh uniforms and backpacks, all ready for the first day of...

Back-to-school promotions showed up in many area stores in mid-July. But now that the kids are back in classrooms -- or headed there soon -- the real shopping will begin, one analyst believes.
Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst for The NPD Group, says...

School has started and it is time to start thinking about Back-to-School Nights. This is a great time to meet your children's teachers, the school administration and join your PTA. Please make sure you attend and get involved in your child's...

As music videos played on flat screen TVs overhead, Brendon Lee, 7, sank into a brown cushioned stool at Shoe City on Monday while his great-aunt poked the toe of the white Converse sneaker on his left foot. It was the right shoe but the wrong size.
...

If you stopped by the beekeeping exhibits at the Howard County Fair, and were inspired to learn more about honey bees, there will be a one-day seminar on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. that will be sponsored by the Howard County...

NEW YORK CITY— Kevin Liles is riding high. On a bright August afternoon, the Baltimore-born entertainment mogul is ensconced 35 stories above midtown Manhattan, enjoying lunch at one of the city's most exclusive hotels, the Mandarin Orienta

Fleming Back-to-school event Aug. 23Anne Arundel County Public Schools will host students, families and community members through an event designed to connect students and parents with resources and information as the opening of school nears.The...